Thailand Supreme Court Accepts Case Against 44 Lawmakers on Lèse-Majesté Reform

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's Supreme Court has accepted a case against 44 current and former opposition lawmakers, accusing them of ethics violations for proposing amendments to the country's strict lèse-majesté law that protects the monarchy from criticism. The decision, announced on April 24, 2026, sets the stage for a trial starting June 30, with each defendant facing a potential lifetime ban from holding political office.

The charges stem from a 2021 parliamentary bill introduced by members of the now-dissolved Move Forward Party, which sought to reform Section 112 of the penal code. Prosecutors, acting on a petition from the National Anti-Corruption Commission, allege that the lawmakers failed to uphold Thailand's constitutional democracy, which designates the king as head of state. The case involves 34 former Move Forward members and 10 lawmakers from the opposition People's Party, including its leader Natthaphong Ruengpanyawut and four deputy leaders. Among those implicated is Pita Limjaroenrat, the former Move Forward leader currently serving a 10-year political ban.

The lèse-majesté law imposes penalties of three to 15 years in prison per offense for insulting the...